GOP battles to limit losses, control House for 2 more years

ALAN FRAM, Associated Press

Published
5:44 am CST, Tuesday, November 8, 2016

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2016 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Republicans seemed on track to secure two more years of House control in Tuesday’s elections but with erosion of their historic majority, leaving hard-line conservatives with added clout to vex party leaders. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2016 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Republicans seemed on track to secure two more years of House control in

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2016 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Republicans seemed on track to secure two more years of House control in Tuesday’s elections but with erosion of their historic majority, leaving hard-line conservatives with added clout to vex party leaders. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2016 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Republicans seemed on track to secure two more years of House control in

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are on track to retain House control next year. But Democrats seem likely to erode the GOP's historic majority and complicate life for Republican leaders planning to push their agenda through the new Congress.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is rousing opposition among voters in many suburban and ethnically diverse House districts. That's left Democrats hoping to gain a dozen seats or more on Election Day, with chief targets in Tuesday's voting including GOP seats in Virginia, New Jersey, Illinois, Florida, Nevada and California.

Republicans could pick up Democratic seats near Miami, northern Minnesota and Omaha, Nebraska.

Both sides anticipate that Democrats will fall short of the 30-seat pickup they'd need to take command of the House for the first time in six years.